Cowes Classic Powerboat Rally 2011

burgundyben · 21-12-2010, 09:31 PM

Hello.

Building on the success of the Rally in Torquay in August this year, Paul Hooper (Scarron hereabouts) and I have begun to plan another COPOC Rally to be held on August bank holiday weekend 2011 to coincide with the BPRC running the CTC race that weekend.

Details can be found here

http://www.powerboatrally.com/

Thanks

Ben

deerhound · 19-01-2011, 08:19 PM

well, i'm doing my best to get the boat restored and ready. Gearbox ordered today and engine arriving sunday. If its half as good as Torquay 2010 it will be brilliant and i for one can't wait to taste the spray, smell the fuel, feel the noise and take in the history (as well as a few beers in good company).

burgundyben · 19-05-2011, 10:08 AM

We have mailed out the registration forms for this rally, if you wish to come along and have not recieved a registration form you can contact either Paul or myself via email on the website.

Martin The Talker · 21-07-2011, 11:12 AM

There has been little on this thread of late - & August approaches !
It would be an excellent addition to the 51st running of an offshore powerboat race from Cowes, for as many historic powerboats as possible to attend this rally, organised on behalf of COPOC.
Even if owners of ex-race boats are non-COPOC members, please do try to bring your boat to Cowes over August BH weekend, or better still, join the organised rally, starting from Portsmouth.
History is what much of Cowes Powerboat Festival is all about, so please bring those historic / classic powerboats, Including Class 3 boats ( ! ) along.

deerhound · 21-07-2011, 05:35 PM

collected the new stainless tank today, and the new engine mounts have arrived for the Phantom 23, we are trying hard to 'av her ready!!

Catweazle · 21-07-2011, 08:48 PM

Windows out ,attacking the rot,hope to start putting back this wk end.I cant believe the price of 6mm perspex

Any chance of an update on who will be at portsmouth on the friday.
Put the race no back on the bow looks better and it did restrict my vision before.
anti foul done.new props on ,having the week before off work to make sure no last minute panics like last year.

burgundyben · 28-07-2011, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catweazle

Any chance of an update on who will be at portsmouth on the friday.

Sorry, its taken me a few days to respond.

So far we have recieved 12 paid entries, there is at least another 4 that are definately coming, so we are expecting a minimum of 16, plus a few others that are being chased up or are deliberating, hopefully we'll see an influx of entry forms in the coming weeks.

Entries to date are:-

Coronet 21 - Zohra
Fairey Huntsman 28 – Playtime II and Midnight Blue
Fairey Swordsman 33 – Hamble Sword, Sabre and Sonnet
Levi Triana 25 - Le Scarron and Lady Emma
Levi Triana Tropica – Viking
Levi Corsair 28 – Blue Corsair
Nelson 41 – Horatia
Souter/Hunt – Laksfors III

Paul and I are looking forward to seeing everyone on the friday in Gun Wharf.

THUNDERBOLT · 28-07-2011, 09:30 AM

Hi Ben
THUNDERBOLT is definately coming, sorry reg form will be on its way soon slight cash flow....first clutch went then rear suspension and discs to pass MOT. oh the joys of motoring! let alone boating.

Looks like the fuel tanks will be filled with credit card! at least the new tonneau keeps her dry as a bone worth every penny...

where has the year gone? it does not seem a year since last August's escapade.

Mike

Catweazle · 28-07-2011, 07:40 PM

Thanks for the reply Ben.mike you should of let us sort the car out.

i was hoping we could get 20 for the start.

burgundyben · 28-07-2011, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catweazle

i was hoping we could get 20 for the start.

We may yet, watch this space, we'll keep updating more as entries come in.

Its extraciting!

Catweazle · 28-07-2011, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burgundyben

We may yet, watch this space, we'll keep updating more as entries come in.

Its extraciting!

looks like they wont be needed now.Its being renamed the sod off ,sorry Somewhere off the end of the isle of wight to Torquay race.

Adam · 29-07-2011, 10:19 AM

would be a real shame if the classic boats don't turn up - afterall a big part of Cowes is the whole weekend, being in the pits and the town in general.

the organisers are working really hard on the event and I'm sure they would have started from the RYS line if at all possible.

THUNDERBOLT · 29-07-2011, 10:35 AM

Adam
think you have wrong end of the stick, classics will be there but not required for safety boat services as was originally envisaged...hopefully we will be doing a display prior to race.

Mike
THUNDERBOLT

Adam · 29-07-2011, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THUNDERBOLT

Adam
think you have wrong end of the stick, classics will be there but not required for safety boat services as was originally envisaged...hopefully we will be doing a display prior to race.

Mike
THUNDERBOLT

not really - taking in other thread / comment

Catweazle · 29-07-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam

not really - taking in other thread / comment

Adam i think you have picked up on my utter dissapointment as we are now not needed for the start shute at RYS.As you can imagine the classic boat boys are busy trying to look there best for the event to give people a sense of where it all started.
I myself have lost count of the alterations i have done to make the boat as it was all those years ago.
Now we are not needed to do a usefull job i have to admit the shines gone of it for me.
No round the island and now no RYS start,i can imagine the reasons but only can guese really.
Lots of people put in hundreds of hours to organise this event for which we are all gratefull.
My only gripe is we all got wound up on a promise then it doesnt happen
and i think without an explanation it sort of brings out the worst in me and i just go off on one and say b------s to it.
Mike says a demonstration before the start,
the only demo i want is one with a banner off the squadron saying WHY THE F__K cant we start here.
Cant we have just one hour on one day to roar down the middle solent.
I am going down tonight to carry on with the prep but without the enthusiasm
i had,
i wont let the rest down this year,but next year as things stand i dont see a lot of point.

Martin The Talker · 29-07-2011, 07:53 PM

Can I re-assure Catweazle & others, that the race organisers are as disappointed as everyone at this outcome.
There has been much hard work done by the OOD, The Race Secretary, John Moore & many others, to try to ensure that this start went ahead.
The Cowes HM was on-side, as were many other parties.
Unfortunatley, at a high level, some 'voices' within "officialdom" deemed it better to "play safe" & revert to the start we have had for the past three years.
It is sadly the case, that these days, races, especially where high speeds (even under control of a start boat, & with speeds limited), are now deemed hazardous, & of such a risk, that they cannot, it seems, be countenanced, whatever safety provisions are made.
Please, everyone, be assured that even though the COPOC boats may not be required in their original safety role, they will be warmly welcomed, & indeed, will form a vital part of the atmosphere at the 51st running of a Cowes powerboat race, & 50 years since Sir Max Aitken saw the first running of his brainchild, the Cowes-Torquay race.

Catweazle · 29-07-2011, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin The Talker

Can I re-assure Catweazle & others, that the race organisers are as disappointed as everyone at this outcome.
There has been much hard work done by the OOD, The Race Secretary, John Moore & many others, to try to ensure that this start went ahead.
The Cowes HM was on-side, as were many other parties.
Unfortunatley, at a high level, some 'voices' within "officialdom" deemed it better to "play safe" & revert to the start we have had for the past three years.
It is sadly the case, that these days, races, especially where high speeds (even under control of a start boat, & with speeds limited), are now deemed hazardous, & of such a risk, that they cannot, it seems, be countenanced, whatever safety provisions are made.
Please, everyone, be assured that even though the COPOC boats may not be required in their original safety role, they will be warmly welcomed, & indeed, will form a vital part of the atmosphere at the 51st running of a Cowes powerboat race, & 50 years since Sir Max Aitken saw the first running of his brainchild, the Cowes-Torquay race.

I was in no doubt about the efforts made for a start at RYS Martin and as said we are gratefull for the behind the scenes work thats put in.
The reason you give is as suspected and i would like to take who ever it is on a close inshore trip around the island in Cowes week and show him just how dangerous it is trying to navigate among the many hundreds of sail boats but they only sail at under 10 knots so thats allright then.
One hour one day in one year to much to ask.Nuff said.cw

burgundyben · 29-07-2011, 09:28 PM

Of course its a great shame that the racing wont be started from Cowes.

We will still have a cracking time in Gun Wharf on Friday night, today QHM Portsmouth and Southampton VTS have given me the go ahead for the proposed Cruise in Company from Portsmouth to Cowes on the Saturday, we've devised a great route round the Solent that the entrants will get in their joining instructions. It'll be a magnificent trip.

We'll still have a Concours D'elegance.

We've got a huge amout of Pimms for the pontoon party (the Tesco delivery man thought my wife has a drink problem!!).

We'll still be in amongst the action at the Yacht Haven.

We'll still have prime viewing of the start albeit somewhere else.

We'll still have great reception at the Royal Corinthian.

It is gearing up to be a fab weekend.

Ben

Ciao · 29-07-2011, 10:50 PM

I thank Martin for his post.

The Cowes Organising Team have done their best in the last 5 months or so to put on a "Traditional Start".

Sadly it can't happen.

The OOD, Safety Officer and Race Secretary are the best in the business, and are as disapointed as all that we couldn't bring this off.

We have to move on - it will be once again a great weekend of powerboat racing, with the mix of classics, Superstock and Marathon boats in the wet pits and I have managed to find 3 sponsors to support our social functions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Martin The Talker · 30-07-2011, 12:28 PM

[QUOTE=burgundyben;206482]Of course its a great shame that the racing wont be started from Cowes.

The "Concours ..." was always a much prized award in the early Cowes-Torquay Races. It will be good to see you run such an award, notwithstanding that there is still such an award for the race. However, with only one cabin boat so far, it is of lesser importance now.

The COPOC Classic race boats will be an excellent part of the weekend, & maybe a parade off The RYS as competitors leave for the start would be an option.
Good luck.